The blue-green streak of light was seen from Dubuque into central Iowa and as far north as Minnesota and far south as Missouri. Iowans report seeing the streak between about 5:35 p.m.

"Based on the direction that it was coming from, I really doubt that it was any space junk because that would come in at a different direction," said Doug Rudd of the Des Moines Astronomical Society.

Experts said the object was likely a meteor that was about the size of your fist to your thumb. It was seen headed west and small pieces could have landed somewhere north of Ames to Fort Dodge -- if they survived at all.

"It probably burned completely up as it was coming through but it was a long track through the atmosphere," said Rudd.

"I had just picked up my son at daycare," said Meggan Heinrichs, of Ankeny. "All of the sudden, I saw a flashing light, thought it was a plane, a very low flying plane and my son was screaming thinking it was a shooting star. But then all of the sudden it kept going down towards the ground and it kind of fizzled out. It was kind of a bluish color."

Heinrichs said she watched it for about 10 seconds.

"I was out cooking dinner -- cooking a steak. It was nice out so I figured I'd fire up the grill," said Mike Johnson. "I saw a flash out of the corner of my eye coming over the garage and it streaked across the sky. Green and blue flames, sparks coming out of it. I originally thought it was like fireworks or something. It was pretty cool."

"I was on the phone," said Katie Peters, of Des Moines. "It was kind of a tealish, almost more green than blue. But it was just shooting across the sky. It definitely had a tail. It was totally breathtaking. Amazing. I don't know how to describe it other than breathtaking."